Your weekly online magazine for
Fishing and Outdoor Recreation
in northern British Columbia, Canada

Published each Monday

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Most anglers anxiously await the return of the pictures from the last fishing trip. They tear open the envelope expecting magazine cover shots of the huge fish, beautiful scenery and beaming companions.

However, we all know that Murphy was an angler before he became an office boy, and if something can go wrong, it will. The pictures are often disappointing, the fish seem smaller, your buddy doesn’t look happy and if he is, he doesn't show it, and there is a dog in the background watering your knapsack. If you don’t want to apologize for the pictures or be embarrassed to show them, here are a few hints.

Fill it up

Fill the frame with the angler and the fish. Most fishing picture are taken much too far away. It makes the angler and the fish look small. You can include some background if it is important to the picture but close-ups are usually the best. Don’t extend the fish out to the camera but rather use a wide angle and get as close to the fish as possible. Pictures taken horizontally draw attention to the subject and the background. Vertical shots emphasize the subject. Try both for different effects.

Real close

Try taking some real close pictures, as close as your camera will allow. A head shot with the fly or lure in the mouth, a fish half-in or half-out of the water, or a head on shot can be extremely effective. A picture of the tail of the fish at the moment of release, can show the explosive power of a strong fish.

Look at fish

The important area in the picture is the fish and the eye should be drawn to that point. Once a friend was taking a picture and I looked into the camera with the usual cheesy grin common to every angling picture. He told me he didn’t want to look at my ugly mug, he had seen it many times before. This picture was about the fish so look at the fish. It is to this day my favorite angling photo of myself. The viewers eye is drawn to the beautiful steelhead and the snowy October morning for a memorable picture.

Focus

Determine beforehand what part of the picture you want in focus. A high f-stop means more of the picture is in focus but also means slower shutter speeds, tripod use or higher speed film

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Narrow depth of field means only a small central part of the subject may be in focus. If the background will detract from the subject use lower f-stops and higher shutter speeds.

Background

Don’t forget to check the background. Compose the shot to remove all unwanted objects. If you want the shot to look like the wilderness then check for garbage, power lines, vehicles, other anglers, logging scars etc. As mentioned at the start of the story, my buddy had told me of the shot he had taken of his best ever steelie on the fly. When he got the picture back there in the background was a dog urinating on his pack. To say he was PO’d was an understatement.

Plan ahead

Things can get hectic when you are landing a fish so plan ahead. If buddies are going to use your camera make sure they are familiar with it’s operation ahead of time. It is no time to learn in the heat of battle. I have a photo of my biggest steelhead, a beautiful shot of the fish but my partner of the day cut my head off on all photos.

Let them live

Studies show that a fish out of the water for more than sixty seconds has only a 60% chance of survival. Plan your pictures and have the photographer compose and focus the shot. Lift the fish, take the picture, and get the fish back in the water as quick as possible.

Flash

Most cameras now have a built in flash. Fill in flash is underused and should be a part of many of your pictures. On a bright day fill flash can fill in the shadows under the angler’s hat. If 6he sun is too bright the angler may be squinting. Turn the angler around and use the fill flash to prevent silhouetting. Early morning and late evening shots invite the use of the flash for effect. Make sure the angler removes their sunglasses for all shots. Don’t use flash for close shots.

To get the beautiful detail and color of the fish you may have to tilt the fish up or down to prevent glare. Experiment with the angle to get the best focus.

Professional photographers will tell you it is only film. Take lots. Or try a digital camera for no film costs. One of those pictures may turn out to be your magazine cover.

Check for new photos on the Photo page
.................... and past photos on the Slideshow